It ’s a Wonderful Life , cont ’d ...
Menorah Manor in St. Petersburg will be doing Hanukkah services for their residents. But they also have started a Skype program that could be very exciting especially for the holidays! Menorah Manor has computers situated in their common areas and WIFI throughout the facility. Volunteers can help residents talk to their out-of-town loved ones via Skype, a software application that allows voice and video phone calls over the Internet. This is a great idea for the teen techies who want to help! Yet another group of people who need Holiday cheer
It takes a little more investigation to find people who may be living alone or are considered “shut-ins.”
We caught up with Nancy Drourr at Hillsborough County’s Meals on Wheels headquarters. Nancy says Meals on Wheels could use more volunteers all year long, but was very enthusiastic about getting some extra help for holiday meal deliveries.
Elves for Elders a program sponsored by Better Living for Seniors in Pinellas County has angel trees in all the county’s Beall’s stores. With the help of local agencies, they have identified Medicaid clients who have no one around to buy them presents. Choose and angel and brighten someone’s holiday. Ask the leadership of your place of worship for a list of the elderly and shut-ins that are on the membership list. Organize groups to perform, visit or drop off gifts to those members. Give children a chance to read a holiday story, make a craft or sing a song. They will never have a more grateful audience. Carry greeting cards made by young children (see page 26 for ideas) in your bag and let the young ones hand them to an elderly person at the grocery store, pharmacy or bank. Similarly, spread some joy to the neighbors you never see, even if you just leave it at the door.
Or organize a school or youth group to make holiday cards for those who receive meals from Neighborly Care in Pinellas County. Contact their volunteer coordinator at (727) 573-9444 “We have pick-up locations all around the county and it only takes about an hour. We assign our volunteers a route, so they get to help out. to know the people they’re serving.”
Round-up of general suggestions for holiday visits Almost everyone we spoke with says it’s a great opportunity for family outings. Residents’ and patients’ faces especially light up when it is a small child who presents a gift or card. This is an ideal learning situations for moms with preschoolers. It’s something to do before they start school that will teach their children to value and assist other people less fortunate than themselves.
While becoming girls of courage, confidence, and character, Girl Scouts troops reach out to spread holiday cheer and brighten days. Here are just a few examples:
Let children know what to expect before going. Explain that many of the people will be old, may not be able to speak, and could be in wheelchairs. Bringing a card or small gift makes it easier to initiate conversation. Make sure you’ve called ahead to ask how many gifts or treats to bring and what is appropriate at the particular facility you plan to visit. If you want to make the gift more personal, make it by hand. Ask for names of residents that never receive visitors or letters. Send or bring cards with their names to these particular residents. You might even want to extend this activity all year round. Read books, poems or Bible verses aloud. Do wholesome comedy or drama skits. Reading the Thanksgiving or the Christmas story can give your children a reason to dress up. Dogs are welcome! If your dog is well-behaved and housebroken, call ahead to learn the facility’s policies. Most facilities are now aware that dogs are good therapy and most residents love animal visits.
Buy a gift for an elderly resident through Elves for Elders. Find the angel trees in Pinellas County Beall’s stores
Certain residents may have permission to go outdoors. Volunteer to accompany them around the facility if weather permits. One-on-one attention is valuable (check ahead if background checks are needed). Music and performing of any kind is always well received. Plan a short program of new and old songs. When finished, walk around and shake people’s hands. The personal touch is a blessing.
photo courtesy of Palms of Largo
Small gifts you can take: costume jewelry, socks, gloves (think dollar stores), combs, boxes of tissues, small, lightly-scented hand lotions and nail polish for women or treats to be handed to an employee
Brownie Troop 618 in Oldsmar has visited Harbor Chase of Palm Harbor for the past two years and, according to Troop Leader Deb Pierce, “It’s kind of like a part of life for the girls. It’s what we do – try and take the holidays into people who might not be able to get out.” The girls make visits throughout the year, too, including Halloween for a costume parade. Brownie Troop 148 and Daisy Troop 389 presented a holiday program at an assisted living facility in Zephyrhills, and are planning on doing so again this year. Girls from Junior Troop 1251 and 753 will present a Veteran’s Day performance at The Landings at Sea Forest in New Port Richey, and will sing carols at a local nursing home. For four years, Brownie Troop 132 in the Riverview/ Brandon area has visited the Alafia Village Nursing Home, making it a tradition. The girls learn new songs each year, and make ornaments to accompany cards for each of the residents. Older Girl Scouts in Troop 137 and Daisy Troop 474 sang carols at A Rose Garden Assisted Living Facility in Palm Harbor. In addition, Brownie Troop 104 from Tarpon Springs visited the facility to sing carols and hand out beaded ornaments and cards. The residents found their visit “delightful,” “so wonderful” and “very cheerful.”
“It was a wonderful experience for our troop to see the joy they brought to strangers just by spreading a little kindness,” said Sarah Zweifel, Troop 104 leader. “One of the most endearing comments from the girls was when they acknowledged that they understood some of the residents don’t have families like they do. We plan on making our holiday visits an annual event.”
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32 GoodLiving / Nov•Dec 2010
GoodLiving / Nov•Dec 2010